Notes: The
Bionix was originally designed to replace Singapore’s aging M-113 fleet
completely, but it appears that, in the near-term, will simply supplement
Singapore’s M-113s (most of which will also be upgraded). The Bionix is, in
essence, a radically-upgraded M-113.The Bionix entered Singaporean service in 1997 and is also being offered
for export, though no known export
customers have materialized so far. (Several countries are believed to have
trialed the Bionix or plan to do so in the near future.)The Bionix is meant to be a smaller, less expensive alternative to
vehicles such as the Bradley and Warrior; though the Bionix cannot match those
vehicles in armor protection, armament, fire control, or night vision systems,
the Bionix is a much more affordable IFV for those countries who simply want a
more modern vehicle but simply cannot pull off a more expensive vehicle
purchase.The Bionix is also
attractive to countries who, due to political reasons, cannot buy vehicles from
the more usual arms companies.
Though inferior to most Western AFV designs, it is plenty for those countries
that are likely to use the Bionix.
In 2000, a version of the Bionix (the Bionix ICV) was even tested by the US
Army, though that contest was eventually won by the Stryker family of vehicles.

There are
currently three variants of the Bionix IFV; the first two are in use by the
Singaporean military, and the third should be entering service soon. (A fourth
version, the Bionix ICV, which used an OHWS in lieu of a turret, was cancelled
soon after the US trials; only the two prototypes that were sent to the US for
trials were built.)In addition,
there are ARV, AVLB, Counter-Mine, and SP Howitzer versions of the Bionix (not
covered in this entry); the Bionix was designed to be a modular system which can
be used as a base for a family of AFVs.All use essentially the same hull, which has a sharply-raked glacis plate
of spaced armor.The hull,
especially the suspension, shows its M-113 heritage, with the tracks,
roadwheels, drive sprockets, and final drives all being obviously derivative of
the M-113 series.The sides of the
Bionix have spaced armor, including armored side skirts covering the top of the
tracks just above the roadwheels.
The extra armor applied to the Bionix is of steel. The rear of the vehicle is
essentially the same as on the M-113, with a powered ramp at the rear that has a
door in it; it is also obviously taken from the M-113 series.The Bionix has no firing ports and no vision blocks for the troops in the
rear.Despite its M-113 heritage,
the Bionix is not readily amphibious; to swim, a special kit must be attached
which includes Stryrofoam-filled metal blocks to the sides, the extension of a
trim vane at the front, the attachment of balloon-like floats to each of the
roadwheels, and the switching on of a bilge pump.Note that none of these requirements for amphibious operations are
supplied with a standard Bionix; the standard Bionix is not amphibious.As the Bionix is much heavier than an M-113, the engine has been replaced
with a license-produced 475-horsepower Detroit Diesel DDC-6V-92TA supercharged
diesel engine, along with an HMPT-500EC automatic transmission (a modified form
of the transmission found in the M-2 Bradley) and a driver’s compartment that
has a conventional steering yoke, gas pedal, and brake pedal.The driver’s position remains in the front right of the vehicle; the
driver has three vision blocks to his front, the center of which can be replaced
with a night vision block.

The Bionix 25 is
the base IFV version.It is topped
with a two-man turret armed with an ATK M-242 25mm autocannon (a
license-produced version of the M-242 Bushmaster) and a coaxial machinegun.(It should be noted that STK license-produces the ammunition for this
weapon and the Bionix II’s weapon from Oerlikon.) The turret is located in
roughly the center of the vehicle, and is of all-steel construction. The
commander also has a pintle-mounted weapon, and a third machinegun is found in a
remote overhead mount atop the troop compartment.This remote installation provides a day/night periscope with
magnification, and is manned by one of the troops in the rear.Three smoke grenade launchers are found on each side of the turret.The turret has modern night vision and the fire control equipment
includes a ballistic computer; magnification for the sights are x8 by day and
night.The commander has no night
vision equipment or magnified day sights of his own, but can access the gunner’s
sights, and has auxiliary controls for the autocannon and coaxial machinegun.
The commander’s cupola has vision blocks to the sides and front (a total of
five); the gunner has three vision blocks, to the right and rear. The troops in
the rear are seated three per side, with the seventh (normally the squad leader)
being at the front of the troop compartment facing to the rear; the rearmost
soldier on the left side mans the remote machinegun. The troops and crew have a
collective NBC system.

For the most
part, the Bionix 40/50 is similar to the Bionix 25, but the turret mounts an
automatic grenade launcher with a coaxial .50-caliber machinegun.The turret on this model is a one-man turret, and there is no commander’s
station; as the turret is smaller, more troops are carried. The rear overhead
mount for a machinegun remains over the left rear troop compartment. The Bionix
is designed to act as a counterpart to the Bionix 25; the Bionix acts primarily
in the IFV role, while the Bionix 40/50 is optimized for counterinsurgency and,
to an extent, anti-riot work.

The Bionix II is
produced both as new-build vehicles and as an upgrade kit for the Bionix 25.The Bionix II is a modern IFV, featuring a battlefield management system
(in conjunction with IFF receivers that are being mounted on most Singaporean
vehicles and in many units, as well as being offered for export).This BMS gives the commander two LCD screens that display information
about friendly and enemy units, receives updated intelligence and allows the
commander to send updated reports, and displays precise information about the
state of his vehicle.The BMS also
allows the commander to interface with UAV cameras and information from UAV
sensors can be displayed on one of the commander’s LCD screens.The Bionix II is armed with the ATK Mk 44 ChainGun (a license-produced
version of the US M-230 Bushmaster II). Fire control for the main armament and
coaxial machinegun is improved with the addition of a laser rangefinder and
dual-axis stabilization.The
commander retains his pintle-mounted machinegun and the left rear-mounted
overhead machinegun is also retained.The commander still has no magnified day vision or night vision devices
of his own, but has the ability to access the gunner’s sights as well as having
auxiliary controls for the autocannon and coaxial machinegun.Armor overall is beefed up, with extra attention being paid to the floor
of the vehicle for mine protection. Other additions include an air conditioner.

Twilight 2000
Notes: The Bionix 25 and Bionix 40/50 were put through an accelerated
development program before the Twilight War; however, only 10 of each were
actually available for the start of hostilities.Though it was not substantiated, some export sales may have been made to
South Africa.The Thais were known
to have about 8 Bionix 40/50s on hand for the war, and the Cambodians were
believed to have four.Some reports
state that the Indonesians bought five Bionix 25s, and used them against the
Australians.

Vehicle

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

Bionix 25

$165,502

D, A

1 ton

23 tons

3+7

16

Passive IR
(D, G), Image Intensification (G), Thermal Imaging (G)

Shielded

Bionix
40/50

$172,987

D, A

1 ton

21.5 tons

2+9

14

Passive IR
(D, G), Image Intensification (G), Thermal Imaging (G)

Shielded

Bionix II

$378,725

D, A

1 ton

24.8 tons

3+7

18

Passive IR
(D, G), Image Intensification (G), Thermal Imaging (G)

Shielded

Vehicle

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

Bionix 25

134/94

33/20

527

236

Trtd

T3

TF13SpTS7SpTR7 HF16SpHS7SpHR4*

Bionix
40/50

143/101

35/21

527

221

Trtd

T3

TF13SpTS7SpTR7 HF16SpHS7SpHR4*

Bionix II

125/87

31/19

527

255

Trtd

T3

TF14SpTS8SpTR8HF17SpHS8SpHR5*

Vehicle

Fire Control

Stabilization

Armament

Ammunition

Bionix 25

+2

Fair

25mm ATK
M-242 ChainGun, MAG, MAG (C), MAG (R)

630x25mm,
2800x7.62mm

Bionix
40/50

+2

Fair

CIS 40AGL,
CIS 50, MAG (R)

350x40mm
Grenades, 850x.50, 1500x7.62mm

Bionix II

+3

Good

30mm ATK Mk
44 ChainGun, MAG, MAG (C), MAG (R)

525x30mm,
2800x7.62mm

*Belly armor for the Bionix
25 and Bionix 40/50 is 3.

**Belly armor for the
Bionix II is 5.

M-113A3 Ultra

Notes: STK of
Singapore offers a number of upgrade possibilities and modifications for the
M-113 series of APCs, including modifications to turn the M-113 into a variety
of specialist vehicles and to turn the M-113 into a variety of ICVs and IFVs.The M-113 Ultra is the part of the M-113 upgrade program that deals with
the IFV-type modifications to the M-113.The M-113 Ultra program began as a program specifically to upgrade
Singapore’s M-113 fleet, but was soon offered on the international arms market.Singapore employs a large number of M-113 Ultra-upgraded vehicles, as
acquisition of the Bionix has not gone as fast as desired by the Singaporean
Army. I have called the various possible upgrades below as Ultra 1-5, though
these are not official designations.

The Ultra
modification starts with the upgrade of the basic M-113 chassis to the M-113A3
standard, including the replacement of the engine with a license-produced
version of the Detroit Diesel 6V53T 275-horsepower supercharged diesel engine.The suspension is also greatly-improved, primarily to cope with the
additional weight of the Ultra upgrades. The chassis is topped with a turret,
with three possible turrets being applied. The primary version used by Singapore
uses a turret that is essentially a heavily-armored cupola with overhead
protection, and armed with an automatic grenade launcher and .50-caliber
machinegun. A second variant uses an OHWS turret designed by Rafael of Israel,
armed with a 25mm autocannon and coaxial machinegun, and with the weapons sights
and external sensors being downlinked to the gunner’s station inside the hull.This turret has a small hatch in the roof. The third turret, not used by
Singapore but offered for export, uses the Rafael OHWS, but with the addition of
a single launcher for a TOW II ATGM.The launcher is reloaded from the large hatch which, like most
M-113-based vehicles, is present on the rear deck.Due to the space taken up by the turret and ammunition storage, the troop
complement is reduced substantially. The electrical system of the M-113 chassis
is beefed up to cope with the demands of the turret.In each case, there are three smoke grenade launchers on each side of the
turret. The M-113 Ultra series is not designed to be amphibious, though STK
states that such a capability could be added in a similar manner to the kits
proposed for the Bionix.

The hull layout
remains essentially the same as the M-113, except for the presence of the
turret, and the resulting absence of the commander’s station.There is a large hatch on the rear deck, and primary access to the
interior of the vehicle is through a powered ramp in the rear face which also
has a door in it.The driver
remains in his position in the right front of the hull.Firing ports have been added, with four being on each side of the troop
compartment and one in the rear door. An interesting crew-comfort feature has
been added: a special seatbelt can be snapped on, which pumps chilled water
through the seatbelt to help cool off the soldier.This, combined with the addition of air conditioning, makes the M-113
Ultra potentially an unusually comfortable vehicle for the soldier. A collective
NBC system has been installed. The vehicle’s armor has been increased though the
use of appliqué armor – but unlike most appliqué armor, which comes in the form
of steel or aluminum plates, the Ultra upgrade uses advanced ceramics sandwiched
in a spaced fashion inside thin steel walls.This makes the appliqué armor lighter than most appliqué armor upgrades,
but just as effective.This
approach was taken because the Ultra modifications already make the resulting
vehicle heavy, and standard appliqué armor would have made the Ultra
unacceptably heavy.As the Ultra
appliqué armor modifications were also designed with urban warfare in mind, the
hull floor and deck have also received such armor upgrades.

STK also offers
the ceramic appliqué armor package by itself on the international arms market
for use as a general M-113 armor upgrade.

Singapore is
contemplating a further upgrade to the Ultra in the near future, replacing the
engine with a Caterpillar 3126B turbocharged diesel that develops 330
horsepower, or a variant of the 3126B engine that develops 350 horsepower.STK also is also offering an upgrade for the OHWS turret with a 30mm
autocannon.

Twilight 2000
Notes: The Ultra-upgraded M-113 was more common than the Bionix in the Twilight
2000 timeline, though not with the 330 or 350-horsepower engines or the 30mm
autocannon.

Vehicle

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

Ultra 1 (275hp Engine)

$132,981

D, A

800 kg

16 tons

2+9

8

Passive IR
(D, G), Image Intensification (G)

Shielded

Ultra 1 (330hp Engine)

$133,187

D, A

800 kg

16 tons

2+9

8

Passive IR
(D, G), Image Intensification (G)

Shielded

Ultra 1 (350hp Engine)

$133,262

D, A

800 kg

16 tons

2+9

8

Passive IR
(D, G), Image Intensification (G)

Shielded

Ultra 2 (275hp Engine)

$161,416

D, A

800 kg

15.7 tons

2+9

8

Passive IR
(D, G), Image Intensification (G), Thermal Imaging (G)

Shielded

Ultra 2 (330hp Engine)

$161,622

D, A

800 kg

15.7 tons

2+9

8

Passive IR
(D, G), Image Intensification (G), Thermal Imaging (G)

Shielded

Ultra 2 (350hp Engine)

$161,697

D, A

800 kg

15.7 tons

2+9

8

Passive IR
(D, G), Image Intensification (G), Thermal Imaging (G)

Shielded

Ultra 3 (275hp Engine)

$182,416

D, A

800 kg

16.1 tons

2+9

9

Passive IR
(D, G), Image Intensification (G), Thermal Imaging (G)

Shielded

Ultra 3 (330hp Engine)

$182,622

D, A

800 kg

16.1 tons

2+9

9

Passive IR
(D, G), Image Intensification (G), Thermal Imaging (G)

Shielded

Ultra 3 (350hp Engine)

$182,697

D, A

800 kg

16.1 tons

2+9

9

Passive IR
(D, G), Image Intensification (G), Thermal Imaging (G)

Shielded

Ultra 4 (275hp Engine)

$164,489

D, A

800 kg

15.7 tons

2+9

8

Passive IR
(D, G), Image Intensification (G), Thermal Imaging (G)

Shielded

Ultra 4 (330hp Engine)

$164,695

D, A

800 kg

15.7 tons

2+9

8

Passive IR
(D, G), Image Intensification (G), Thermal Imaging (G)

Shielded

Ultra 4 (350hp Engine)

$164,770

D, A

800 kg

15.7 tons

2+9

8

Passive IR
(D, G), Image Intensification (G), Thermal Imaging (G)

Shielded

Ultra 5 (275hp Engine)

$185,489

D, A

800 kg

16.1 tons

2+9

9

Passive IR
(D, G), Image Intensification (G), Thermal Imaging (G)

Shielded

Ultra 5 (330hp Engine)

$185,695

D, A

800 kg

16.1 tons

2+9

9

Passive IR
(D, G), Image Intensification (G), Thermal Imaging (G)

Shielded

Ultra 5 (350hp Engine)

$185,770

D, A

800 kg

16.1 tons

2+9

9

Passive IR
(D, G), Image Intensification (G), Thermal Imaging (G)

Shielded

Vehicle

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor*

Ultra 1 (275hp Engine)

109/76

27/16

360

125

Trtd

T2

TF6TS4TR4HF10SpHS6SpHR6

Ultra 1 (330hp Engine)

129/90

32/19

360

156

Trtd

T2

TF6TS4TR4HF10SpHS6SpHR6

Ultra 1 (350hp Engine)

136/95

34/20

360

167

Trtd

T2

TF6TS4TR4HF10SpHS6SpHR6

Ultra 2/4 (275hp Engine)

111/78

28/16

360

123

CiH

T2

TF4TS4TR4HF10SpHS6SpHR6

Ultra 2/4 (330hp Engine)

131/92

33/19

360

153

CiH

T2

TF4TS4TR4HF10SpHS6SpHR6

Ultra 2/4 (350hp Engine)

139/98

35/20

360

164

CiH

T2

TF4TS4TR4HF10SpHS6SpHR6

Ultra 3/5 (275hp Engine)

108/75

27/16

360

127

CiH

T2

TF4TS4TR4HF10SpHS6SpHR6

Ultra 3/5 (330hp Engine)

127/89

32/19

360

158

CiH

T2

TF4TS4TR4HF10SpHS6SpHR6

Ultra 3/5 (350hp Engine)

135/94

34/20

360

169

CiH

T2

TF4TS4TR4HF10SpHS6SpHR6

Vehicle

Fire Control

Stabilization

Armament

Ammunition

Ultra 1

+2

Fair

CIS 40AGL,
CIS 50

350x40mm
Grenades, 850x.50

Ultra 2

+3

Fair

25mm ATK M-242 ChainGun, MAG

630x25mm, 1500x7.62mm

Ultra 3

+3

Fair

25mm ATK M-242 ChainGun, MAG, TOW II
ATGM Launcher

600x25mm, 1500x7.62mm, 4xTOW II ATGMs

Ultra 4

+3

Fair

30mm ATK Mk 44 ChainGun, MAG

525x30mm, 1500x7.62mm

Ultra 5

+3

Fair

30mm ATK Mk 44 ChainGun, MAG, TOW II
ATGM Launcher

525x30mm, 1500x7.62mm, 4xTOW II ATGMs

*Hull floor armor for the
M-113 Ultra series is 5; hull deck armor is 4.